French Open 2021: Top 5 Players to Watch Out For (Women’s Singles)

French Open 2021 is just around the corner, as the excitement builds around the tournament in Paris. Women’s tennis has always sprung up surprises in the past, with 12 different winners in the last 16 majors. Last year, we saw the Polish teenager, Iga Swiatek fight against all odds, and claim the French Open 2020 title. The 19-year old dominated her opponents throughout the two weeks in Paris, and claimed the title in Paris, without dropping a single set.

As with every tournament, the likes of Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep are always the heavyweight favorites to claim the title. However, there is always an air of uncertainty when it comes to women’s tennis. Ashleigh Barty won the Porsche Open title, whereas, Aryna Sabalenka claimed the title in Madrid. To end the preparations for the French Open 2021, Iga Swiatek won the Italian Open 2021 title.

There are several other names in women’s tennis who can challenge the obvious favorites in Paris. The French Open is a breeding ground for future champions, as only the best can survive on this brutal face. In this article, we look at five players to look forward to at French Open 2021.

Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek is one of the favorites to claim the title in Paris this year. The Polish teenager showed her true quality at the Italian Open 2021, as she scored a double-bagel victory over Karolina Pliskova in the finals. She has almost all her shots in her armory, and has a potent forehand, which she can bank on at any point in the match. The 19-year old is the defending champion at French Open 2021, after she defeated Sofia Kenin in the finals last year. Such was her dominance last year, that she did not drop more than five games in any match.

One of her biggest victories was over the Romanian, Simona Halep in straight sets in the fourth round last year. The youngster has played just two tournaments on clay courts this season. She was defeated by the world number one, Ashleigh Barty in straight sets in the third round in Madrid.

Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka has been one of the most improved players since last year. The Belarusian claimed has already won two titles this year, and can spring up a surprise at the French Open 2021. Sabalenka has played three clay court tournaments so far, and has done a pretty fine job so far. The 23-year old finished as the runner-up at Stuttgart Open 2021, after she lost to Ashleigh Barty in the finals.

She managed to claim the Madrid Open 2021 title, after defeating Ashleigh Barty in a fierce three set battle. However, she could not carry her momentum into the Italian Open 2021, as she suffered a loss in the third round against Coco Gauff. Sabalenka is a powerful player, and has taken her game to the next level in the past year. The clay courts suit her hard-hitting game, and she is one of the top contenders to claim her maiden Grandslam title in Paris.

Bianca Andreescu

Bianca Andreescu is another highly rated Canadian, who can perform well at the French Open. She burst onto the big stage after her incredible victory over Serena Williams in the finals of US Open 2019. However, she was out of action for almost over 14 months due to an injury, she came down with towards the end of 2019.

Bianca Andreescu has not played much tennis this year either, but showed signs of promise at Miami Open 2021, where she ended as the runner-up. The 20-year old was all set to compete in Madrid and Rome, but tested positive for covid-19 which ruled her out of the tournaments. She is currently competing at the Strasbourg Open 2021, and has already booked a spot in the quarterfinals.

Amanda Anisimova

Amanda Anisimova is one of the most promising players on the WTA tour. The American attracted a lot of attention, after her incredible French Open 2019 run. She reached the semifinals in Paris in 2019, before losing to the eventual champion, Ashleigh Barty in three sets. The 19-year old defeated the likes of defending champion, Simona Halep and 11th seed, Aryna Sabalenka en-route her semifinal run in Paris.

However, Anisimova has not been in the best form off-late, as she has faced a couple of early round exits this clay court season. The American lost in the first round of the Madrid Open 2021, and could only reach the second round in Rome. Despite her recent performances, a lot can be expected from the youngster, given her sheer quality on court.

Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff is finally living up to her expectations, and has certainly improved her game on all fronts. The 17-year old reached the semifinals of the Italian Open 2021, where she was defeated by the eventual champion, Iga Swiatek in straight sets. Gauff managed to claim the first title of her season in Parma, as she put up a dominant display throughout the week in Italy.

Coco Gauff gained five places in the WTA Rankings, after her recent performances. She is now ranked 25th, and a good performance at Roland Garros can help her break into the top 20 rankings. The 17-year old has several things to work on before she can challenge for a Grandslam title, but she is certainly taking steps in the right direction.

Also Read: French Open 2021: Top 5 Players to Watch Out For

Stay Updated!

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW